Thomas & Reed, LLC (T&R) represents a new era in the public accounting arena where our goal is to provide value-added accounting, auditing, financial, tax compliance, and management advisory services that will allow clients to grow and reach their potential.
Thomas and Reed is placing a Market Research Manager at the Rural Export Center, within the International Trade Administration, in Fargo, North Dakota.
Statement of Work
Market Research Manager
Rural Export Center - Market Research Analysis
Global Markets, International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce
The U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) is the trade promotion arm of the International Trade Administration's (ITA) Global Markets (GM) business unit. The USCS has trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries to help U.S. companies connect with export opportunities in foreign markets. The Rural Export Center (REC) is a USCS program, created with the support of the Senate Appropriations Committee and housed within GM's U.S. Field region, created to support, and expand international trade opportunities for rural businesses.
Background. ITA helps create economic opportunities for American workers and businesses by promoting trade and investment, strengthening industry competitiveness, and ensuring fair trade.
Scope. The REC Director provides direction to the Contractor's one Market Research Manager, Market Research Analysts and Part-Time Market Research Assistants who assist with conducting international trade/export business development market research, analysis, report writing and training.
Task Requirements. The contractor shall provide the REC with the following contractor support.
The Market Research Manager shall work to promote the services of the REC to USCS Trade Specialists, State Trade Offices, District Export Councils, and other stakeholders, so that rural companies in the United States are aware of the service and enlist the REC for assistance.
Promotion of Services: The Market Research Manager shall promote the services of the REC to Rural Team members, Trade Specialists, State Trade Offices, District Export Councils and other stakeholders via phone calls, videoconferencing, and emails, so that there are a sufficient number of research requests to maintain a full workload for all REC contractors.
Oversee Research Quality and Activity: The Market Research Manager shall oversee the status and research quality of market research reports being completed by the Market Research Analysts and Market Research Assistants.
Oversee Documentation of Operations: The Market Research Manager shall oversee the maintenance of a Works in Progress (WIP) project tracking document for RAISE Research Reports, Website Globalization Reviews, and client training.
Maintenance of Training Materials: The Market Research Manager shall oversee the maintenance of procedure manuals, templates, and training documents to ensure consistency of onboarding, systems access, work, communication and reports for the Market Research Analysts and Assistants.
Deliver Research Results: The Market Research Manager shall participate in meetings with clients and include / invite the local USCS Trade Specialist and REC Director to the client meetings including the introductory discussion, the matrix criteria discussion, the results of the matrix analysis discussion, the polling results discussion, and the final project review discussion ensuring that research findings are clear, actionable and that they incorporate U.S. Commercial Service programs, events and services.
Record Counseling Interactions in Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) and Folder System: The Market Research Manager shall be responsible for working with local USCS Trade Specialists to ensure that RAISE Cases are recorded in the client management system (CRM), presently Salesforce, and the client folder system, so that all CS staff have visibility into the activities.
Coordinate Weekly and Monthly Status Meetings
Evaluate and Recommend Additional New Data Tools
Evaluate and Advise on Burn Rate, Research Efficiency and Staffing
Hiring and performance management: The Market Research Manager shall be a key part of the recruiting and hiring process for new full-time and part-time contractors; and shall advise on critical staffing situations and needs.
Administrative Oversight
Working with Interns: The Market Research Manager shall periodically have access to interns who are referred and managed by the REC Director.
Promote Exporter Training Classes
Coordinate the Planning and Scheduling of Exporter Training Classes
Client Follow Up
Reporting: The Market Research Manager shall ensure that projects and trainings are being logged on a daily basis in the WIP document; and will use that data to assist the REC Director in the creation of tracking dashboards and reports.
Training for Contractors and Professional Development
Place of Performance. Work by the contractor shall be performed in Fargo, North Dakota or an approved telework location. Requests for telework must be approved by the REC Director and COR.
Qualifications for Research Manager -
The Market Research Manager is required to have at least 3 years of management experience, preferably including completing research projects and supervising research staff. The Market Research Manager shall have excellent analytical and written communication skills and be proficient in advanced Excel. The Market Research Manager must have a proven track record in business development. The Market Research Manager is required to have experience leading seminars geared toward business owners, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality oral presentations and experience with adult instructional methods. The Market Research Manager must be comfortable operating in rural environments working with a rural client base. The Market Research manager should preferably have private sector experience, including private sector exporting experience. The Market Research Manager is required to be able to work independently on tasks and will receive instructions related to the final deliverable results expected. Technical guidance from the REC Director will be provided on unusual or complex problems. A Master's degree is preferred, and the minimum education requirement is a bachelor's degree (in either business or economics) and/or a minimum of five years of related experience. Applicant must be a US Citizen.